Monthly Archives: July 2015

July 6, 2015 -- Thousands of Adopt-A-Highway volunteers will be back picking up litter along state roadways starting Saturday, as they've done each summer since 1990. Participants in the popular Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) program will clean highway roadsides from July 11 to 19 during the second of three scheduled pickups this year.             "This year marks a quarter century of outstanding community service from groups in the Adopt-A-Highway program," said State Transportation Director Kirk T. Steudle. "For 25 years, these volunteer crews have given a big financial boost to MDOT, and the entire state. They're performing an important job that we simply couldn't otherwise afford.             Every year, Adopt-A-Highway volunteers collect about 70,000 bags of trash, for a total of more than 2 million bags in 25 years. Last year alone, Adopt-A-Highway cleanups generated a $5 million value for state taxpayers.             Getting involved in the program is straightforward. Volunteers include members of civic groups, businesses and families. Crew members have to be at least 12 years old and each group must include at least three people. Groups are asked to adopt a section of highway for at least two years. There is no fee to participate…

From left to right: Trevor Tarantowski, Allyson Oliver, Rachel Waskiewicz and Paige Lukasik. Jackson, Michigan — The Kiwanis Club of Jackson is pleased to announce it has awarded four one-time $1,000 college scholarships to local high school graduates. They are: Paige Lukasik, of Michigan Center High School; Allyson Oliver, of Western; Trevor Tarantowski, of Jackson Christian; and Rachel Waskiewicz, of Grass Lake. To qualify, applicants had to live in Jackson County, graduate from a Jackson County high school and plan to attend full-time a college or university within Jackson County. Home schooled students could also apply. Applicants had to show success in high school and exemplify the Kiwanis standards through extra-curricular activities and volunteer opportunities. Both Paige and Rachel will attend Jackson College to study nursing; Allyson will study accounting at Spring Arbor University. Trevor will study Communications and Worship Ministries at Spring Arbor. Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time. The Kiwanis Club of Jackson was established in 1918. Today, it is nearly 90 members strong. To learn more about the club, log onto www.jacksonkiwanis.com.